What sort of aerial support would this evil horde have?

[darjr]

We first spotted them days ago. Drifting on the winds. Slowly getting closer. Looming and giant, tentacled monstrosities with whole armies on their backs. High above they soar, not cumbersome brutes, more like graceful giants they slowly approach.

They don't arrive, they burst into action, manta's pouring off their backs to dive bomb and grab victims tossing them high into the air and to their screaming deaths. The larger ones are ridden by javelin armed soldiers who have a keen eye and an endless supply.

Then the sky darkens. Not by the build of the cloud like abominations, nor by hoards of arrows, but by uncountable boulders launched by siege weapons safely ensconced on their backs.

Then I get deeply angry, do the gods hate us so much? The enemy will wipe us out, hardly trying, and then forget us.

 

[haakon1]

Tauric hobgoblin-griffons. In 3e, that's page 216 of MM2.

These creatures a cross between, of course, a hobgoblin and griffon. So, a hobgobline with wings, who can fly.

I've used them in a goblinoid army, along with the warbeast rhinoceros in the tank role. That's p. 219 in the MM2.

 

[Mark]

Might be interesting to have one of the Huge Vultures carry a wicker basket full of darkmantles over the walls or front lines just before an assault so the darkmantles can spread out and use their darkness ability.

 

[NewJeffCT]

Might be interesting to have one of the Huge Vultures carry a wicker basket full of darkmantles over the walls or front lines just before an assault so the darkmantles can spread out and use their darkness ability.

well, the PCs - having just arrived on the scene - were told the bad guys will be arriving at nightfall. The gnolls, orcs, etc will be able to see in the dark.

And, when I just typed that, I had visions of Aragorn saying, "It is an army bred for a single purpose: to destroy the world of men. They will be here by nightfall."

 

[Nymrohd]

Marrashi? Plague bearing, winged archer gnolls.

 

[Mentat55]

Marrashi? Plague bearing, winged archer gnolls.

I like this suggestion. But why hasn't anyone mentioned yrthaks?

Maybe manticores or chimeras?

 

[NewJeffCT]

Marrashi? Plague bearing, winged archer gnolls.

looks great - never heard of them, but I looked them up. Thanks!

 

[Hellzon]

maybe dire vultures as well?

Why not go straight to the source and use vrocks? L13 if we're talking 4E, and you said there was demon stuff involved already.

Doing a Compendium search for MM1 flyers at level 10-14, adult green/blue/black dragons, wyverns and manticores stick out too.

Fake edit: Drat. Blackguard? Spellweaver? I take it you're running 3.x. Well, CR 9 vrocks still kind of work. Manticores too, if you want hordes of the things.

 

[Aberzanzorax]

I'm liking shadows, dire vultures, and marrashi the best.


Cool imagery.

 

[Festivus]

Why not go straight to the source and use vrocks? L13 if we're talking 4E, and you said there was demon stuff involved already.

Doing a Compendium search for MM1 flyers at level 10-14, adult green/blue/black dragons, wyverns and manticores stick out too.

Fake edit: Drat. Blackguard? Spellweaver? I take it you're running 3.x. Well, CR 9 vrocks still kind of work. Manticores too, if you want hordes of the things.

I've seen a 4E spellweaver statblock somewhere.

Thematically, I like the idea of the vultures. It fits with the arid conditions of the savanah, and they could just be following the army along for food much as seagulls follow fishing boats into the harbor.